It’s not about our age, it’s about our relevance

But it got me thinking about age and irrelevance, because it’s not just Boomers who are feeling sensitive right now about being old and irrelevant. I know I do.

And yes, I know there’s nothing more annoying than a person in their 20s complaining they feel old and irrelevant. But before you throw your dentures at me in disgust, just hear me out.

I didn’t grow up in the age of youth, I grew up in the age of hyper-youth. Ever since I’ve been in school, I’ve seen the Facebook and Instagram stories of 14-year-olds who are famous.

I’m not just talking about creepily captivating train-wreck child actors. I’m talking about the 15-year-old CEOS of start-ups, sustainable swimwear designers and global activists. My generation can’t turn around without bumping into someone younger and more gifted who has a TV series about their line of handcrafted soy candles that all smell vaguely of cats’ pee.

It’s shifted the age goalposts. By the time you’ve reached 25 you’re an old timer. And if you haven’t made something of yourself by then, what have you been doing with your whole life?

Now I know how ridiculous that sounds to older generations. And I’m not telling you this because I’m playing the pity Olympics of who feels more irrelevant right now. What I’m saying is that everyone from 25-year-olds to 55-year-olds to 95-year-olds can feel old and irrelevant.

I’ve got mates in their 30s, with small kids, who feel old and irrelevant because they aren’t out clubbing and brunching any more. And in their 40s, who feel old because no movie love interest looks like them, or all the models in shops look about 12. Equally, I know 18-year-olds who feel irrelevant because they don’t know anything about the world yet.

And whatever age you’re at, there’s always someone older ready to dismiss your frustrations with, ‘‘Oh, please. Wait until you get to . . .’’

We’re all touchy about our age, but the number isn’t the problem. It’s the fact that we link that age to relevance. Being young isn’t a guarantee of having anything interesting to say. And being old isn’t proof that you’re outdated and boring.

Look at Margaret Atwood, who’s dishing up bitingly timely fiction at the age of 80. Then name something profound that Justin Bieber said lately.

Relevance comes from having something to say about the world, which is a product of thoughtfulness or innovation, not age.

But it does also mean you have to actually do or say something insightful and interesting. If you’re doing that, whatever age you are, you’re sweet. If you’re not, then by all means continue that highly productive all-caps Facebook rant.